Sunday, April 1, 2012

Ensure Your Indoor Comforts, Choose Energy-efficient Air Conditioners

By Nia Lawrence


Centralized air conditioners are better than portable or standalone units; if you're going to renovate your home, then you should also consider overhauling your cooling system. Some people prefer portable or standalone units, though, and some homes require smaller units for each room. These are preferable if you can get by with ceiling fans on other rooms, but you have to choose a cooling unit with a capacity that matches the room's requirements. You also have to determine the best installation; wall mounts and standalone units come in different sizes, and a portable unit could still cramp the available space in your room. You should pick your unit's features, and you should start with its energy efficiency.

You should optimize your air conditioning unit's consumption. Your monthly electricity dues will increase with the new units, and cooling systems drain more electricity than many of your home appliances. The added costs should be practical at the very least. You should invest in newer models; these always cost more than last year's releases, but you'll benefit from improved operation and maintenance costs. Room air conditioners are evaluated according to EER (energy efficient rating) standards and displayed with energy guide labels. EERs of 9.0 and higher are better. You can also compare the unit's efficiency with other brands of the same cooling capacities. If you want to determine how much an hour of operation costs you, the energy label should also base the estimate on the electricity rates in your locale.

You can also choose air conditioners with different cooling capacities; the installations should match the size of the room. Room units are either portable, wall-mounted, or standalone, and these usually come in a variety of sizes. You shouldn't opt for large units to cover for small rooms, though. You may think the increased cooling capacities ensure the comfortable room temperature is maintained, but your cooling system will switch off once it meets the thermostat's limit. You'll waste energy with the startups, and you're better off with units which run at optimum performance throughout the day. This also maintains the comfortable humidity levels so you don't have to brace for chilly and clammy temperatures. Estimate your cooling capacity requirements by measuring your room's square footage and multiplying this by 20 (BTU).

The continuous operation also maintains the humidity. Your unit shouldn't cool the available space too quickly if you don't want chilly and clammy indoor temperatures. The general rule of thumb for cooling capacities is 20 BTU for every square foot of your living space. If you can't figure out the appropriate unit type and cooling capacity for your living space, then you should consider an air conditioning service Brisbane. Professionals can install the units after a thorough evaluation of your home's cooling requirements.

It pays to know the basic features of your home cooling system. Even if you hire people for the installations, you still have to decide on units that meet your needs.




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